trapezoid

noun

trap·​e·​zoid ˈtra-pə-ˌzȯid 

1

a

: a quadrilateral having only two sides parallel

b

British : trapezium sense 1a

2

: a bone in the wrist at the base of the metacarpal of the index finger

trapezoidal

ˌtra-pə-ˈzȯi-dᵊl 

adjective

Illustration of trapezoid

• trapezoid 1a

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The teacher was a young, floppy-haired man shaped like an upside-down trapezoid. —E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2023

The bottle is a tall trapezoid, featuring crisp lines and a golden semicircle at the top. —Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2022

When folded up, the prop arms form a trapezoid around the drone’s central core. —Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 20 May 2015

It’s the big city sister of his ladylike Ana bag that is shaped like a dainty little trapezoid. —Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2022

At the top corners of the trapezoid, sew ribbons for ties. —Terri Robertson, Country Living, 22 Aug. 2022

At the top corner of the trapezoid, sew a corresponding color ribbon for ties. —Terri Robertson, Country Living, 18 Aug. 2022

There is a craze for the long-but-short denim piece that covers the leg like a trapezoid! —Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 22 July 2022

The shape of the State House-- not a rectangle but a trapezoid -- was one of the findings Derry explained during her presentation. —Mike Cason | [e-mail], al, 18 Dec. 2021

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Word History

Etymology

New Latin trapezoïdes, from Greek trapezoeidēs trapezium-shaped, from trapeza table

First Known Use

circa 1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

trapezoid

noun

trap·​e·​zoid ˈtrap-ə-ˌzȯid 

: a polygon that has four sides and exactly two that are parallel

trapezoidal

ˌtrap-ə-ˈzȯid-ᵊl 

adjective

Medical Definition

trapezoid

noun

trap·​e·​zoid ˈtrap-ə-ˌzȯid 

: a bone in the distal row of the carpus at the base of the index finger

called also lesser multangular, trapezoid bone, trapezoideum